MANILA (2016 FIBA Asia Challenge) - Kevin Ferrer is aware of the criticism that has surrounded the new-look Gilas team, but he is confident that this young team will prove their doubters wrong when they run onto the court on 9 September in Tehran, Iran, to play at the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge.

The Philippines will have no PBA players in their roster in Tehran, and the amateur standouts selected by coach Josh Reyes have struggled so far in the two tune-up games they played against collegiate opposition.

“Yes, the negative comments will motivate us to do well in FIBA Asia Challenge and prove our doubters wrong,” said the 23-year-old.

Ferrer, who was part of the 2016 SEABA Stankovic Cup winning team in Thailand, is also confident that the team will get their act together when it matters.

“It’s all part of the process, we will step by step improve. We will get our acts together when it matters, especially when we represent the colors of our country,” said the 23-year-old.

Philippines coach Josh Reyes admitted couple of weeks ago that the FIBA Asia Challenge will be the perfect tournament for Gilas’ news players to gain experience and learn playing at a high level, and Ferrer agrees with his coach’s comments.

 “We will try hard and do our best, but above all, we will learn from this experience to improve,” He concluded.

The Philippines will play in Group B with 2014 FIBA Asia Cup silver medalists Chinese Taipei and India.

The top five teams in the FIBA Asia Challenge will earn for their respective sub-zones an extra berth in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup (formerly the FIBA Asia Championship).

FIBA